Just Beautiful!

The other day I heard a radio DJ comment on the colors of the trees here in the Great Lakes area.  He said that he thinks they are prettier this year than they've been in a long time. 
The trees are starting to turn here in my area and I would agree with him.  I'll be driving along and come upon a group of trees whose color just takes my breath away!  Wish I could capture these images on film so I could remember them forever. 
Looking for  color ideas for your next quilt?  Just take a drive (and remember your camera). 

Pink Houses Project Update

A week ago I said good-bye to the last of my Little Pink Houses quilts.  It was a bit sad to do so because that project had been part of my life for almost a year.  But it  also made me happy because I knew that the project was done for a good cause. 
The quilts were delivered in time to be part of another fundraiser at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.  I haven't yet heard how much $$ they helped raise for the low cost/no cost mammogram program at the hospital.  Hopefully the quilts got the intended message across and sold well. 
This being Breast Cancer Awareness month, are you up to date on your mammograms?  Hope so!  Cure rate is great when caught early! 

Don't know how they do it!

A couple of weeks ago I made up my mind that I would blog more frequently...you see how far I got with that!  I don't know how people can come up with something to say each and every day on their blogs!!!  I feel like I've been "brain dead!"
I have also decided that my sewing room is meant to be in a constant state of disarray because I constantly have several projects going at one time, talks and workshops to plan for, and new ideas to pull fabrics for.  That's just the way I work.
I did spend one long evening in my sewing room sorting fabrics and putting them away, sorting thread and putting it away, filing a few papers and putting books on the bookshelf.  But things won't stay this way for long, and I'm no longer going to feel guilty about it! 

In Trouble Again

I decided it was time to start blogging again. And I'm beginning with a confession. My sewing room is a mess again. Here's why:
1. I traveled to lots of quilt shows and shops this summer. Everywhere I went I bought a little something. But I've been too busy to really unpack it all so the purchases are still in their bags, in my sewing room.
2. I'm traveling to Norman, OK next week to work with the quilt guild there. But because I got such a good deal on airfare and am not driving, I am limited in what I can take. Therefore I have put together a power point presentation for my lecture to take the place of the trunk show. That meant that I had to photograph lots of things...dig them out of their hiding places, photograph them, then try to put them back where they came from. Not always successful in doing so.
3. I'm in the midst of MANY projects, each one requiring different materials. Many piles.
4. We've reacquired two quilt racks (that my husband made many years ago for our mothers). I already have one of my own...where to go with the extra two? One of them is in the middle of my sewing room.
5. I'm writing several different articles for the Quilting Quarterly and using books from my personal quilting library as references. Not necessarily put back where they belong.

I just need a few more hours in the day...anyone have some to spare???

It Was a Winner!

Were you able to make it to the NQA show in Columbus earlier this month? If so, perhaps you saw my challenge quilt hanging with the other little quilts in the "Little Quilt Auction" display. There were 8 of us who took part in the challenge and NQA members had a chance to vote for their favorite challenge quilt. I am happy to report that MY little quilt came in 2nd! What fun to see it hanging there, sporting a ribbon!
When the quilts were auctioned off Friday evening, the 8 quilts brought in over $1000 for the NQA grant program. I don't remember who bid on my quilt, but I'm hoping that it went to a good home!

Delivered!

As you can see from the photo, some of the "Little Pink Houses" quilts have been delivered to my local hospital. On Wednesday I presented Milica Kay (of the Cancer Care Center of Henry Ford Hospital, Clinton Twp., MI) with "Clear Skies" and "Chance of Showers." It feels good to have them all finished and ready for new owners. The plan is for them to be auctioned at a "survivors' event" on June 22nd.
The remaining 3 were promised to her just as soon as I can get them finished. I've started quilting "Hazy," but with my busy summer schedule, I'm not sure when it will be completed. I'll keep you posted on my progress and on the $$ we raise for free/reduced fee mammograms. :)

Change of Plans

After looking at the calendar, seeing what the coming weeks are bringing, and realizing that I have to have some "Little Pink Houses" quilts to the hospital by May 25th, I changed my plans. I put aside HAZY for now and pulled out CLEAR SKIES. Quilting 9 blocks seemed much more manageable than quilting 12 blocks.
I got right to work marking the quilt top, then layering it up. I've been working on it steadily (and have a sore finger for proof!) and am just about finished with the hand quilting. Just have to quilt along the border on both sides.
CHANCE OF SHOWERS now has the binding sewn on by machine. I just have to do the hand stitching to finish it off. And I'm in the process of making labels for both quilts.
I feel confident that these two quilts will be ready on time! Yay!